By the way...

I just love how the red dots are overtaking my cluster map on the sidebar. Hum... Wonder if I can get those in blue? :::snicker:::

Poets without boarders?

"I never thought of myself as a New York poet or as an American poet."~ Kenneth Koch

This sort of remind me of Doctors Without Boarders. I'm not sure that Koch is suggesting anything other than the fact that he never saw himself in any more specific role then that of just "a" poet. Still, I think there is something exhilarating about poets being able to transcend artificial boundaries of geo-political & cultural nature.

• Canadian Sylvia Legris and Barbadian-born Kamau Brathwaite were the toast of Toronto on Thursday night after being named winners of the Griffin Poetry Prize. [here]
• Queensland has been home to some of Australia's finest poets [here]
• One of the most unusual galleries in New Harmony, Ind., will celebrate five years of exhibitions with art, music and poetry. [here]
• ‘New’ national writers workshop raises the bar [here]
• North-Voorhees High School (New Jersey) student editor resign over censorship, nearly all of staff walks too. School. David Steffan, principal said that many of the magazine's poems and photographs failed to meet "community standards." [here] Oh boy, we have another gifted person who is capable of defining community standards for those of us not in the know. Thank you Mr. Steffan for your "gift" of censorship. (did I sound sarcastic enough?)

Tags: Poetry Censorship David Steffan Charles Shaddow Voorhees High School Laramie Silber Boyer Griffin Poetry Prize Kenneth Koch

That Clicking Sound

"When you finish a poem, it clicks shut like the top of a jewel box, but prose is endless. I haven't experienced an awful lot of clicking shut." ~ Kenneth Koch

White House pledges full release of Iraq massacre probe - World - Times Online

White House pledges full release of Iraq massacre probe - World - Times Online

[From story]:

The White House has promised full public disclosure of the results of a military probe into an alleged massacre of Iraqi civilians after renewed accusations that the Marine Corps tried to cover up what could be the worst atrocity committed by US forces in Iraq.

Twenty-four civilians died in the alleged killing spree by a Marine unit in the town of al-Haditha on November 19 last year. The killings were, it is claimed, provoked by the death of a Marine driver blown up when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb.

[My thoughts]: Two separate inquiries are underway - they our being conducted within the Marine Corp itself and the Pentagon. Neither of these are independent enough to be expected to adequately investigate this type of accusation. How can we be certain that the military will not break this off at a lower chain of command to protect higher-ups that may have been involved in the operation or a subsequent cover up? Full disclosure of an unbiased investigation means nothing.

In Haditha, Memories of a Massacre -
Iraqi Townspeople Describe Slaying of 24 Civilians by Marines in Nov. 19 Incident

Tag: Haditha Massacre

Is it my position to say what my poetry is like?

"Some people who write about poetry seem to have had trouble with my poetry because it is sometimes comic. I don't think the nature of my poetry is satirical or even ironic, I think it's essentially lyrical, but again I don't know if it's my position to say what my poetry is like." ~ Kenneth Koch


I remember someone saying that a person's voice when recorded sounds like how other people here you rather than how you sound to yourself. Now I don't know how anyone is supposed to know that, but I fully understand how one's poetry comes across differently to different people. I suppose we all have this image in our head that describes our own poetry. A view that is not always going to be shared by others. I don't mean good verses bad, I talking about a more descriptive image of how we write.

As an example, I see myself as writing from a serious to a sardonic-comic state most of the time and almost never in between those two points. Much of my work has political / social implications and if it is not within that element, it will often be of a more confessional nature. My work is often edgy or dark. Though lately, I've been able to move somewhat beyond that. Still, it is suited well to my voice. At least that is how I see myself.

I do move between two points, one being fairly straight forward or accessible. The other, very abstract. I rather like the latter and would like to write more often from a surrealist point of view, however, at times I have trouble freeing myself sufficiently to allow such writing.

I suspect, having said, there are a gazillion other points of view to describe my poetry. Isn't that how it is supposed to be?

Tags: Writing and poetry Poetry Kenneth Koch Surrealist Abstract Michael A. Wells

Boggle

Some more Koch for you this Tuesday morning... "I was influenced by surrealist poetry and painting as were thousands of other people, and it seems to me to have become a part of the way I write, but it's not." ~ Kenneth Koch

Extended weekends are nice... Tuesday after is a whole other story.


Last night we had a threesome game of Boggle (a word game) going - Wife, youngest daughter and myself. Meghan (daughter) is absolutely phenomenal at the game. Usually you can take my score, double it and add another handful of points and you'll have her final score. Last night, she was dethroned by my wife by the slimmest of margins. One point.

Word games have become a big thing in our household. Scrabble had been the mainstay for a long time. I actually stand a chance of winning at Scrabble. The games are always fun just the same, win or lose.

Tags: Games words Vocabulary Poets Surrealism Kenneth Koch

This Week it's Koch

"Maybe there are three or four really good poets in a generation." ~ Kenneth Koch

I must say that this extended weekend has been one of the most enjoyable stretches in a while. I'll very much hate to head back to work tomorrow. Got out with the family today to a book store - though I didn't buy anything [hard to believe] and some clothing stores. Has a great time out just the same. Low key - not pressure, just a very relaxing outing.

A little writing - nothing spectacular over these three days. So Koch thinks three or four really good ones.... I'd love to hear who others would put on their list. Maybe you can't limit it to four, or perhaps that is too many. Come on folks... What are your thoughts?